Syllabus for Roster(s):

  • 16Sp CHTR 3020-001 (CGAS)
  • 16Sp CHTR 5020-001 (CGAS)
In the UVaCollab course site:   16Sp CHTR 3020/5020

Course Description (for SIS)

Survey of Chinese literature and film in English translation since the beginning of the 20th century. Contending strands such as revolutionary, romantic, modernist, nativist, popular and women’s writing are represented by their most distinctive achievements. Major themes include tensions between Chinese and Western culture, tradition and modernity, masculinity and femininity, elite and popular, individual and national identities and class consciousness.

Modern Chinese Literature

Introduction to Modern Chinese Literature

CHTR 3020, Spring 2016
New Cabell Hall 315, TTh 8:00-9:15            

Instructor:

Charles A. Laughlin

New Cabell Hall 155

Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00am-12:00pm or by appointment

charleslaughlin@virginia.edu

 

The following books are available at the UVa Bookstore:

  • HANAN, PATRICK - SEA OF REGRET 《恨海》
  • LU XUN, The Real Story of Ah Q and Other Tales of China 鲁迅《呐喊》、《彷徨》、《故事新编》
  • LAU and Goldblatt - COLUMBIA ANTHOLOGY OF MODERN CHINESE LITERATURE
  • Mitter, Rana - Modern China: A Very Short Introduction
  • BA JIN 巴金 (PA CHIN) - FAMILY 《家》
  • Mao Dun 茅盾, Rainbow 《虹》
  • SHEN CONGWEN 沈从文 - BORDER TOWN 《边城》
  • Yu Hua 余华, To Live 《活着》
  • Han Shaogong 韩少功 Dictionary of Maqiao 《马桥词典》

Additional required readings will be uploaded to this course’s Collab site; see the activities page for links to them.

 

Requirements:

  • Attendance and participation: 25%
  • Writing 55%
    • 2 page paper: 5%
    • 6 page paper: 15%
    • Term paper (12 pages): 35%
  • Weekly quizzes: 20%
  • Students registered for 5020 should write a 20-page research paper, using Chinese language materials. Consult with Charles Laughlin for details.

The following films will be made available on the Collab site (link from Activity page or in the Kaltura Media Gallery) in conjunction with related reading material:

  • Street Angel 马路天使 1937
  • Spring Silkworms 春蚕 1936
  • A Small Town Called Hibiscus 芙蓉镇 1986

Course Goals and Evaluation

Goals

  • Recognize the issues raised by culture, modernity, and artistic expression in China
  • Confidently and competently describe, analyze, and interpret works of Chinese literature in translation and Chinese film
  • Be able to do informed research on Chinese topics
  • Recognize and analyze artistic features of literary works and film 
  • Recognize cultural and historical differences that must be negotiated to understand Chinese creative expression 
  • Think and write critically about literature and film

Evaluation

Three papers 2, 6, and 12 pages in length, respectively. Grades will be based 55% on written assignments (5%, 15% and 35%, respectively), 25% for attendance and participation, which includes participation in discussion, and 20% for weekly quizzes. See Policies for attendance policy. There will be no midterm or final examinations.

East Asian Studies or Chinese majors taking this to fulfill the capstone requirement must fulfill all these requirements, but the final paper should be 20 pages in length, and students must consult original Chinese-language primary and optionally secondary sources. You must also be enrolled in the Chinese Capstone Seminar, CHTR 4991 (1 cr.)

Resources and Tools

Schedule and Dates

Schedule 

For week to week assignments, activities, and extracurricular events of interest, see the Collab site, and pay close attention to your email!

Dates and Deadlines

Friday, Jan 29: deadline for 2-page (600 word) paper

Feb 5: deadline for adding classes

Feb 8: deadline for dropping classes

Friday, Mar. 4: OPTIONAL deadline for 6-page (1800 word) paper FIRST DRAFT

Saturday, Mar. 5 - Sunday, Mar. 13: spring recess

Wednesday, March 16: deadline to drop with a W on your transcript

Tuesday, March 22, 11:55pm: Deadline for 6-page (1800 word) paper

Friday, April 22: Submit Thesis Statement and Bibliography for Final Paper (cite your primary text(s) plus at least three secondary texts) via Assignments. OPTIONAL rough draft deadline, if you want feedback and enough time to revise.

Wednesday, May 4: Deadline for 12-page (3600 word) paper; 20 pages (6000 words) for capstone students

Course Policies

Attendance and participation:

Attendance is important, both for your participation grade and to optimize your writing. If you can't avoid being absent because of illness or family emergency, you must email me before each affected class session with an explanation, for the absence to be counted as an excused absence. Excused absences will detract from your grade approximately 1% per session. No more than two unexcused absences will be tolerated.

Writing policy:

In addition to the guidelines set forth in the grading rubric and style sheet, written assignments must be free of spelling and grammatical errors.

Academic Integrity:

Cheating and plagiarism on examinations and writing assignments are not tolerated by the university. It is of the utmost importance that you understand the definitions of cheating and plagiarism as set forth by the university, so that you do not inadvertently commit them.

Deadlines:

Deadlines for writing assignments are usually at 11:59pm of the deadline date (thus if the due date is a Friday, the paper is due by Friday at 11:59pm). Written assignments should always be submitted electronically before that time according to my instructions. Assignments received after the deadline will result in your course grade being reduced by one percentage point each 24-hour period.